Can a Jehovah witness attend other denomination funeral?

Answer 1

Yes, even though they might not participate in the direct worship of such meeting, therefore they might be present and attentive but won't worship if that is the case for that church. Christian Answer Sadly the above answer is probably true in that JWs will probably would attend but 'refuse to worship'. As a Christian who has had many dealings with JWs on Wiki who insist that they are Christian, this refusal suggests that they certainly are not of the same religion as Christians let alone a different denomination. For me, Christian worship is Christian worship is Christian worship. If I attended, as an Anglican, a Catholic or Methodist or Quaker service, I would still be obliged to worship the same God as I always have done,whether or not the style of worship is what i am used to. However, to refuse to worship (as the previous answer has stated) in not only a slight on the Christians who invited the JW to worship with them, but a snub at God Himself. Another Answer Each religion has its different ways of worshiping God. JW have their way and they belive it to be the truth so they respectfully won't participate in another religion's worship.

Answer 2

Every witness must decide for themselves what they will do. They need to prayerfully concider the circumstances, and also what custms that may be carried out at the funeral. Some funeral customs of certain religions may be concidered occult-like by many people. If it hurts their conscience too much to go, then they have to follow their conscience.

Everybody handles this situation in the way that they feel most comfortable with. A friend of ours recently lost a family member, yet she was uncomfortable with entering the church where the funeral was being conducted. She had previuously been a member of that church, and she had insight as to what was going to occur. She elected to be involved in the funeral procession to the church and to the graveside, but she sat outside in the limo, while the ceremony was going on inside the church. That was her choice, and to help console and support her, several members of our congregation came and sat with her outside the church.

Death is a terrible trauma for all of us, and JW's look forward to the time when death will be no more according to The Bible.

The Governing Body have seen fit to address this topic.

Watchtower 2002 15th May Questions from Readers Would it be advisable for a true Christian to attend a funeral or a wedding in a church?

'Our taking part in any form of false religion is displeasing to Jehovah and must be avoided. A church funeral is a religious service.... How unwise to expose oneself to such pressure!'

Each individual Jehovah's Witness when deciding for themselves would 'respond to the directions of the slave as we would to the voice of God' (W57 15th June p370).

Note how the Society ask could a TRUE Christian attend.

Further ClarificationThe same article as mentioned above concludes with the following paragraph:

"If the occasion involves a close fleshly relative, there may be additional family pressures. In any case, a Christian must carefully weigh all the factors involved. Under certain circumstances he or she may conclude that no difficulties would arise from attending a church funeral or wedding as an observer(bold italics mine). However, the circumstances may be such that by attending, the likely injury to one's own conscience or to that of others would outweigh the possible benefits of being present. Whatever the situation, the Christian should make sure that the decision will not interfere with his preserving a good conscience before God and men."

The article also in an earlier paragraph stated that there may be a situation involving a Jehovah's Witness wiife of a non-JW husband who may feel an obligation to attend a non-witness funeral under certain circumstances.

Let me make this clear, due to my personal convictions, I would not attend a funeral where I would be exposed to religious activity that I would find objectionable, which means that I have made a choice NOT to attend any funeral that is not a Jehovah's Witness based funeral. Neither would my wife due to her own decision that she has made. Our decisions are based on our consciences as shaped by our Bible training, our personal convictions, and our relationship with Jehovah God. But that is OUR decision, no one else's. My wife and I have NOT concluded that others should make that same decision simply because that is the choice that we have made.

It would be wrong for me or any other of Jehovah's Witnesses to view another fellow witness in a negative light because they make a different decision. Only that person knows their personal circumstances, and only they can to Jehovah for their own actions. The position of the Faithful and Discreet Slave as outlined in the article stated above is that, while they are certainly NOT recommending attending such an event, there may be circumstances where the individual witness may choose to attend. The bottom line is, each witness must decide for themselves what they will do in that situation, what their own conscience will guide them to do. No one else but the person themselves can make that decision. In the article above, whiich is the most current understanding at this time, the Faithful Slave is NOT making the decisiin for us, but they are giving us the needed information to help each one of us choose for ourselves what to do.

Answer 3

Yes, absolutely. Anyone is welcome to attend. (Bring your Bible as there will be a Bible based talk included at the memorial/funeral service.)

:)You are welcome at all Jehovah's Witnesses meetings. In fact, the first time I went, ( 46 years ago now,) I never felt uneasy in any way. One of Jesus signs as to who is really his followers is That they would have " love among themselves". People should not only see that but even feel it when in their midst.

That would be extended to anyone who came among them with good motives. That could be because of studying the Bible with them or knowing a Witness who had died and wanting to show respect for them and their family.

--The Bible directs us to take life seriously by the consideration of our dead loved ones & their living families and friends.

(Ecclesiastes 7:1-4) "7 A good name is better than good oil, and the day of death is better than the day of birth. 2 Better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, for that is the end of every man, and the living should take it to heart. 3 Better is distress than laughter, for the sadness of the face makes the heart better."

The true hope of seeing our loved ones again in the marvelous promise of the earthly resurrection & paradise. This Jesus stated as part of the true hope as he expressed in the well know Lord's Prayer--".......thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it does in heaven......"(Matthew 6:10.

The earthly resurrection is part of the great promises of Christ:

(John 5:28, 29) "28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life,. . ."

Answer 4

It would be up to each individual Witness to decide whether or not to go to a funeral for someone who was not a witness. The following are some guidelines that each individual Witness of Jehovah God would take into consideration; and then would make their own personal decision.

Since a funeral is a religious ceremony, some choose not to go for different reasons. *** Watchtower 1970 March 15 p. 191 Questions From Readers *** (The following are some excerpts.)

First of all, it is well to remember that a church funeral is not held primarily to afford friends an opportunity to console the bereaved family. Usually that is done in the funeral parlor beforehand or by visiting the family in their home. The church funeral is really a religious service. It therefore is likely to involve a sermon advocating such unscriptural ideas as the immortality of the soul and that all good people go to heaven. It may also involve unscriptural practices such as making the sign of the cross and most likely the joining in united prayer with a priest or minister of another religion. Of course, a Christian could not take part in such, in view of the command at Revelation 18:4...

(In the case of a Christian wife, who has an unbelieving husband. If her husband insisted that on a certain occasion she go with him to a church funeral of a relative or family friend she might feel that she could act in a way similar to that in which Naaman did-be present on that occasion but not share in any acts of false religion. But whether she went would be up to her to decide. She would have to resolve the conflict between respect for her husband's wishes and obedience to Jehovah and the dictates of her conscience, trained by God's Word.-1 Pet. 3:16.)

...But might one offend the bereaved family by not attending? Only if one ignored the death entirely. One would not need to do that. A person could do things to show that he was sympathetic and interested in helping. He could go to the funeral parlor beforehand, express condolences to the family and offer practical help. A person could bring over food if need be, or cook a meal there for the family, or watch the children, relieving the adults of that responsibility temporarily. Then the family would not think that the person was unloving just because he did not attend the church funeral.

Answer 5

Most but not all Jehovah's Witnesses are not eager to be in a religious building which they feel is devoted to teaching false doctrines like 'the immortality of the soul' and 'the concept of eternal torment' and 'the doctrine of The Trinity' etc etc . We would consider: What will the preacher/priest/pastor/bishop teach about the condition of the dead?

We also consider: The Prayer. To whom would the priest/pastor be praying to? To a trinitarian god? To us this is a false god; and we are certainly not eager to be beside all those 'Amen's' at the end of the prayer to a false god. So yes, we tend to avoid such places and such a false worship event; Just as we would not participate in a 'wake'; or some other similar religious custom.

We certainly find no need to apologize for our position --- BUT --- We always make it a point to visit the surviving family members; either before the funeral or after or both. We will visit them personally at their home to provide condolences; offer assistance; etc. We also will try to share with them the 'true Bible hope of the resurrection'. We may pray with them, of course we only pray to Jehovah God.

But granted, we do have a strong aversion to things we consider as 'FALSE' religous concepts; therefore we will avoid such places. We wonder if Jesus would attend such places that teach such falsehoods. We would tend to think not. Just like we don't think Jesus would join any earthly military of any country, regardless of the cause.

The attached LINK reflects our view.

I know a few bothers and sisters from our Kingdom Hall which have gone to funerals of individuals who are not Jehovah Witnesses. The bible does not have guidelines on this matter so it is up to the decision of the Witness and his conscious whether he/she decides to go.

Answer 6

Yes, One of Jehovah's Witnesses may attend a funeral held outside of a kingdom hall (The meeting place of Jehovah's Witnesses) However most witnesses would choose not to attend a funeral held in a church, following the bible command to "Get out of her, my people" found at Revelation 18:4, in reference to the world empire of false religion

Answer 7

Yes, we frequently do. Some choose not to; it is a personal decision.

We do not participate with any religious activity the involves practicing something unscriptural.